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Molina on busy schedule

Fighters Network
26
Mar

Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina will pursue his third straight win on Saturday night against an opponent to be determined in Guasave, Mexico, and will make two more appearances in April, according to matchmaker Tom Brown of Goossen Tutor Promotions.

Promoted by Promociones del Pueblo in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, Molina, 23, will be on Saturday’s undercard to a main event between IBF junior flyweight titleholder Mario Rodriguez (15-6-4, 11 KOs) and Katsunari Takayama (24-6, 10 KOs), of Japan.

The Rodriguez-Takayama co-feature matches Mexican junior flyweight Raul Garcia (33-2-1, 21 KOs) and countryman Pedro Guevera (18-1-1, 13 KOs).

Classified as a welterweight, Molina (2-0, 1 KO) has so far fought at just over 143 and at 149 pounds, scoring a unanimous decision over Hector Mendoza in January, and a second-round stoppage of Willie Walton on March 9.



“Oscar comes back on April 12 on ESPN,” said Brown. “And then he comes back again on the April 27 card with Chris Arreola [against Bermane Stiverne].”

Molina’s twin brother, Javier (13-1, 5 KOs), is also a welterweight, and is also scheduled to return to the ring on April 27.

The sons of a former amateur boxer, the twins are also the siblings of Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs), a 27-year-old junior welterweight.

The winner of Arreola-Stiverne would be in line to challenge 41-year-old WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 knockouts), who scored his 13th straight win and his 10th stoppage victory during that run against Manuel Charr (21-1, 11 KOs) in September.

The 6-foot-4 Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs) will be after his eighth straight win, his sixth knockout during that span and his third consecutive stoppage victory against Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs).

Arreola, 32, has not been in the ring since February of last year, when he came up with a first-round knockout over Eric Molina.

Arreola suffered his two losses against Klitschko by 10th-round knockout in September 2009, and by majority decision to Tomasz Adamek in April of 2010.

“I’ve been working on my usual aggressive power punching style and focusing on waist and head movement. It has been a year since I have last fought,” said Arreola.

“I am feeling anxious to get back into the ring and shine on HBO. I’m ready to fight for and claim the top spot in the world in the heavyweight division, and that includes the current world champions. I’m ready.”

Stiverne, 33, is 10-0-1, with eight knockouts in his past 11 fights, including five first-round stoppages during that time. Stiverne’s lone defeat was by fourth-round knockout against Demetrice King in July of 2007.

“Chris has been back training hard and preparing for the challenge that Bermane Stiverne presents,” said trainer Henry Ramirez. “Great hand speed and good punching power. Be assured, Chris will be ready for everything.”

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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